What is not in dispute is that both drivers have strong cars. Hamlin, who sat on the pole for the race last year, posted a speed of 187.451 mph to edge Greg Biffle (187.217) and Brad Keselowski (187.149).

With Biffle and Keselowski having to go to the rear of the field Sunday because of engine changes, Logano and Hamlin could find themselves neck-and-neck early—and Logano has motivation.

“I feel like this brought our team closer together,” Logano said. “That’s a positive. Seeing the support of the fans and my fellow drivers is important. I like that, too.

“It gives us a little bit of drive. It pisses everybody off. That’s good. It’s going to get us out there working a little harder and wanting it a little bit more.”

With Biffle and Keselowski dropping to the rear, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth—fourth and fifth—will move into spots 2 and 3 when the race begins.

Only 43 drivers made qualifying attempts, so all 43 will start the race Sunday. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start 15th; Danica Patrick will start 40th.

“I think it’s over (between them),” Earnhardt said about Hamlin and Logano. “I don’t think they’re going to go after each other.

“I think both of them want to win races and they’re going to concentrate on doing that. … It was really entertaining (to watch).”

Most eyes will be on Hamlin and Logano, who never appeared to have a problem while at JGR.

“Off the track, we were definitely fine, no issues,” Hamlin said. “We had our on-track stuff. It never really was public. We had times where it was like, ‘Why did you race me that way’ or vice versa.

“I had just as much disappointment as him on the racetrack as teammates as he had in me.”

Looking back, Hamlin didn’t sound disappointed about what happened on the track at Bristol.

“I didn’t see it as a huge deal,” Hamlin said. “People at Bristol make contact. Where my frustration level was what people didn’t see—the three times I got cut off before you saw it on TV, one time giving us left-front damage.

“That ticked me off and obviously my way of retaliating was to nudge him. I shouldn’t have nudged him in the spot where I did and he spun out.”

Hamlin told the media that he mainly regretted the potshot when he said after the race “(Logano) said he was coming for me. I usually don't see him, so it's usually not a factor.”

“I probably shouldn’t have gave that last little jab at the end,” Hamlin said Friday. “I probably should have left it alone after the question was asked about what it said. … That was kind of a low blow.”